Golf-putting device



D 21, 1931- T. H. DECKER 1,801,266

GOLF BETTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 21, 1931. T. H. DECKER 5 GOLF PUTTINGDEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT OFFICE THEODORE H. DECKER, 0F HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS GOLF-PUTTING DEVICE Application filed November This invention relates to a method of and means for practicing golf putting.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a method of procedure for pro- Q ficiently practicing putting to increase the skill of the participant or player.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for calibrating golf putting greens with respect to a stroke indicating machine to be used in the practice of putting, remote-from the golf course.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practice machine which will indicate, in linear terms, the force of a putting stroke necessary to move a ball a predetermined distance over a given natural putting green of a course when an artificial or substitute green is used with the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine which is capable of being used to strike the ball with a measurable adjustable and predetermined force and which can be made to accurately repeat the extent and forceof the blow from time to time to be used in connection with a blow or impact indicator which is invariably responsive and will indicate in linear terms the effect of the blow.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a home practice putting machine which will measure or indicate the force of a putting stroke and another machine, a part of the system, which may be used therewith on a green to be calibrated, which is adjustable to produce strokes of varying extent and effect.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus whereby the described method of procedure may conveniently and pleasurably be carried into effect.

Other objects, advantages and benefits will readily appear whenthoughtful attention is given to the following description when taken into consideration with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereofwherein;

Figure 1 is an elevational section of the stroke recording practicing machine taken substantially on line II of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a front end view of the machine,

12, 1925. Serial No. 68,576.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the interior of the machine with the cover removed,

F lgure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line VV of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken sulzistantially on line VIIV1'I of Figure 1, an

Figure 8 is an index shown VIIIVIII of Figure 1.

In all the drawings the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

The machinenow to be described responds to and indicates in linear terms the effect of the successive putts made by the first described machine.

One embodiment of a required indicating machine used in home practice is shown in some detail in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive. A rectangular casing has preferably an enlarged base portion 51. A wheel 52 is delicately supported on its axis 53 as on ball hearing in the smaller portion of the casing, so as to exert very little resistance to its rotation and counter balanced by a shiftable weight 54 on the wheel rim so that it will invariably be returned by effect of gravity to its initial position.

An ajustable retarding brake-lever 55 rests upon the perimeter of the wheel, adjustable in its effect by the eccentric 56. The object of this brake is to overcome the momentum of the wheel.

To the lower part of the wheel, a plate 57 is secured. This plate is in line with and in rear of a hole 58 in the casing part 51.

A slightly inclined fixed plate 59 extends below the wheel 52 from the hole 58 to the rear portion of the casing. A strip of suitable fabat line ric 60, plush or the like, is convoluted on a spring propelled roller 61 which will roll up the strip when the spring is released by a clutch (not shown) and which operates just as a window shade roller. The front wall 62 of the casing is notched at its bottom edge, as at 63, to permit the strip 60 to be pulled out forwardly of the casing as shown in Figure 10. This strip serves as an artificial green of uniform surface over which the ball 46 will roll when manually struck by a suitable club or by the striking shoe of the machine heretofore described.

When the ball 46 has been struck it will roll along the strip through the hole 58 and strike the plate 57 which will rotate the wheel 52 to an extent proportional to the force of the blow and displace. the plate 57 as shown in dotted lines. 7

The ball will return'down the inclined plate 59 through the hole 58 to the player.

The scale on the strip 60 is to indicate approximately the length of stroke or distance of club movement when the putting stroke is manually made. The cross lines 66' may be used to indicate the distance the strip'60 is extended from the casing.

5 On the front face of the casing 50 a scale '67 indicates linear dimensions, as in feet, and

to, one side of the scale is a slot 68 made in the front, face of the casing and through which an index or pointer 69 projects. In the instant case a double scale is shown but a single scale will serve the purpose.

vThe pointer 69 is pivotally connected to a link 7 O and the link is connected to a light lever 71 which is pivoted to the casing at 17 2. A cam 72 extends from the rear end of the lever 71 beyond the pivot 17 2' and has a flange 73. A counterweight 7 4 is carried'by the cam to substantially balance the indicating lever when the wheel is rotated as heretofore described. I

A screw is rotatable by an index lever 81 to intensify or to, reduce the frictional effect of the strip 75 on the cam 7 2. A scale 82 indicates the extent to which the screw may have been rotated; These features "are of importance in calibrating and operating the machine. I e A shaft 84 is supported in the'side walls of the casing 50 and isrotatable by a hand lever 85.. The shaft 84 carries an arm 86-with a laterally bent end that extends under the flange 73.,

- hen the plate 57 has beenrearwardly displaced, by force, with which-the ball 46 is struck the-pin 79 will lift the lever 71 and the index 69 against the resistance interposed by the spring strip 75 and indicate on the scale 67 in linear terms, the force of the impact against theplate 57. vTo return the wheel and index 69 tonormal positions the handle 85 is raised which will cause, the arm 86 under the flange 73to lift the rear endof lever71 which will depress the index 69 and the wheel will be returned to normal position by pressure of the lever 71 on the pin 79.

The putting machine is utilized by player or group of players who will pull out the carpet strip 60 in front of the opening 57 of the casing, and a player placing a ball thereon will then putt .the ballagainst the impeller blade 57 for oscillating the wheel to which said blade is attached.

The ball striki-ng the blade 57 will oscillate the wheel in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 which will in turn move the arm 71 upwardly so that the pointer 69 will move along the scale on the face of the machine. The spring strip 7 5 will thereupon'ten'd'to hold the lever in its upward position. to which it has been moved by the Wheel whereby the pointer 69 will indicate on the scale the dis.- tance traveled by the ball or, in other words,

indicate in linear terms the force of the impact of the ball against the plate 57. 1 The lever isreturned to normal position by raising the handle 85whereupon'the arm 86 under the flange 7 3 lifts the rearend of lever 71 for depressing the index 69, the wheel then beingreturned to normalposition by pressure of the lever on the pin? 9. The wheel has been held in position to which it has moved by reason of the finger 55 hearing against the same. The ball may be placed at various. distances from the machine and the force with which the ball is struck will be indicated on the machine in the manner heretofore stated.

The scale 67 may, if desired, he graduated from the top toward the bottom and the direction'of movement of the index 69 changed 7 v accordingly.

He may then'practice for other distances which had previously been noted. I

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patentgranted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: d

1. A golf putting practice machi-ne,a casing having a ball receiving opening at its lower front edge, a roller in the casing; a strip, wound upon said roller, to. extend beyond the casing to serve asa surface for the ball to roll upon; a memberjin the casing movable by the impact of the ball; an indicator arranged to register the extent of movement of said member,,therebeing indicia on said strip to'indicate the virtual position of the ball thereon and to gage the length and alignment of the putting stroke.

- 2. In a golf putting practice machine, a casing; a wheeltherein; aplate secured to the lower edge ofsaidwhe'el toreceiveimpact from a struck ball; a lever carrying an index, means carried by said wheel-j for actuating said lever; means to resist movement of said lever; means to adjust the effect of said resistance means, and means toreturn said lever and said wheel to normal positions.

3. A golf putting practice mechanism, comprising a movable buffer for receiving the impact of a ball, a substantially balanced lever provided with a pointer, means connected with said buffer for actuating said lever and an adjustable brake device associated with said lever to vary the resistance offered to movement of said lever, and a scale for indicating the extent of movement of said pointer.

4. A golf putting practice mechanism, comprising a movable buffer for receiving the impact of a putted ball, a substantially balanced lever terminating in a pointer, a scale associated with said pointer, and means connected with said buffer for actuating said lever to effect a registration of said pointer on said scale of the force imparted to said bufier.

5. A golf putting practice mechanism, comprising a casing having a slotted face provided with a scale, a substantially balanced lever within said casing extending through said slot and terminating in a pointer, a movable impact member within said casing associated with said lever, and said impact member being arranged to move said lever on receiving impact of a putted golf ball to move said pointer over said scale.

6. A golf putting practice mechanism, comprising a casing having a slotted face provided with a scale, a substantially balanced lever within said casing extending through said slot and terminating in a pointer, a movable impact member within said casing associated with said lever, said impact member being arranged to move said lever on receiving impact of a putted golf ball to move said pointer over said scale, and an adjustable brake for varying the freedom of movement of said lever.

7. A golf putting device comprising 9. casing having a slotted face carrying a scale, a lever pivotally arranged withln said casing and extending through said slotted face, a pointer on the extended end of said lever in co-operative relation with said scale, a pivotally mounted member, means carried by said member for actuation of said lever, and an impeller for receiving the impact of a golf ball and transmitting said impact to said pivotally mounted member.

8. A golf practice apparatus comprising a casing, a wheel therein arranged for oscillation, an impeller connected to said wheel, a lever pivoted near one end of said casing, a pointer on the other end of said lever extending through said casing, a scale on said casing over which said pointer moves, means on said wheel for movlng said lever in one direction when said impeller is hit by a golf ball, means THEODORE H. DECKER. 

